St. Telemachus: The Difference One Courageous Soul Can Make!

Where Would You be in the Roman Coliseum in 404 AD?

Give us the grace, Lord, to have
the courage of St. Telemachus.

Would you be sitting in the "sky box" among the pampered and perfumed elite of Rome waiting to watch the "show" begin with excited anticipation?

Would you be in the crowd out for a day of bread and circuses to watch the "match" between the gladiators anticipating the second act when the Chrisitians faced the beasts?

Would you be among the Roman soldiers or those in charge of the animals "just doing their jobs" as they bring the prisoners into the arena and release the hungry animals?

Would you be among the Christians singing and praising God as they faced death?

Or would you be like the lone monk, Telemachus who arriving in a strange city, followed the crowd to the coliseum, and was so horrified when the gladiators began fighting that he leaped over the wall into the arena, stepped between them, and cried out three times, "In the name of Christ, forbear!" The outraged crowd stoned him to death.

A Saint for Our Time: St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

St. Agatha by Caravaggio

St. Agatha, one of the early Roman martyrs, lived during a time of tremendous sexual immorality. What is known of her is from the tradition of the Church. Wealthy and renowned for her beauty, many sought her in marriage, but she dedicated herself to God praying, "Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil."

A determined young woman, Agatha resisted the advances of a high Roman official, Quintian, who thought he could force her into an immoral relationship. When she spurned him he retaliated. As a judge, he sent her to a brothel where she refused the advances of the customers. Quintian had her tortured, her breasts cut off, and ordered her rolled in hot coals. Nevertheless, she prayed as she was dying, "Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul."